What should a nurse assess in a patient with a history of asthma who is undergoing surgery?

In a patient with a history of asthma who is undergoing surgery, assessing baseline respiratory function and any recent exacerbations is crucial for several reasons. First, understanding the patient's baseline respiratory status provides a reference point against which any post-operative respiratory changes can be measured. Patients with asthma may have variability in their lung function, and knowing how well they were functioning prior to the procedure can inform the healthcare team about how to manage and anticipate complications.

Additionally, evaluating recent exacerbations of asthma is important because they can indicate the current control level of the patient's condition. If the patient has experienced recent exacerbations, this may affect the surgical risk and anesthesia management. Such information is vital for ensuring appropriate precautions are in place to minimize the risk of respiratory complications during and after surgery.

While monitoring oxygen saturation and pre-operative medication history are important, they do not provide the comprehensive view of the patient's respiratory health and stability that baseline function and recent exacerbation history do. Body mass index and mobility status are more related to general surgical risk but do not specifically address the nuances of respiratory care in asthmatic patients. Hence, the most relevant factors in the context of asthma and surgery focus on the patient's baseline respiratory function and history of exacerbations.